IHS AP Environmental Science
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe." John Muir
Summer assignment- This page will focus on Part 2 of your summer assignment; the plant collection.
Part 2 consists of 10 plant samples pressed, mounted and labeled, a homemade dichotomous key that identifies your plants and a one page summary paper about your experience.
A hard copy of the summer assignment is attached below.
Use the characteristics of plants handouts to help develop your dichotomous key.
How do I make a dichotomous key?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQZ09SkmZe4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AJEmI8__9k
Dichotomous keys are how we identify plants, animals and any species. The key is based on a series of yes or no questions. During this course we will use many dichotomous keys to correctly identify a variety of species. To make a key, you need to start with general characteristics and work your way to specific characteristics.
General characteristics may include (a few examples may include)
The height of the plant (please use a range and metric units)
The color of the flowers
Type of plant (tree, flower, shrub)
Get more specific as you proceed with your key
The shape of the leaves
How the leaves are attached
Leaf margins
Leaf veins
Types and number of flower petals
Type of bark
Acorn or seeds
There are so many options available. There are no wrong answers as long as your key works. Every student may have a different key. If your keys were identical, I would assume you copied this assignment.
See that documents attached to the characteristics of plants button.
Usually a dichotomous key ends with the scientific name of your sample. Your key will end with sample1, or sample 2
http://year2550.weebly.com/uploads/7/1/2/9/7129361/722643.jpg?872
What should I include in my summary one page paper?
Please explain in detail how you arranged your key. Explain why you chose this theme. Please also include things that you enjoyed about this part of your summer assignment, what you struggled with, and the knowledge you have gained.
Place the plants between layers of tissue, on top of the tissue paper use pieces of cardboard. You can press 3-4 plants at a time. The first plant should be sample 1. The second plant should be sample 2. When you are arranging the plants, turn one of the leaves upside down for identification purposes and one flower petal upside down.
Place books on top of the layers. The more books you place on top the faster it will dry. Some plants will dry in a few days and others will take weeks. It depends on the type of plant.
How do you mount the plants?
The Dichotomous key and the plant collection will be due the second friday of the school year. I will supply the materials for mounting your plants during the first week of school.
1. Plant specimens will be glued (Elmer's) on a piece of card stock paper.
2. A plant label will be secured to the bottom right hand corner of the paper.
Please include any plant terms that you used in your dichotomous key in your plant description. You will need to input the address where you obtained your sample at www.geoplanar.com to get the elevation, UTM group and latitude and longitude information. Please use pen for filling out the plant label except for the name of the plant. For now use a pencil and indicate Sample 1, Sample 2.........Sample 10. We will determine the actual name before the end of the year.
3. A picture will be included in one of the top corners of the paper.
4. The paper with the plant specimen, label and picture will be placed inside sheet protector.
You must collect ten plants with a common theme. Examples of themes may include neighborhood plants, trees at Independence High School, plants that grow along the Penitencia creek, weeds.....etc. ( If you are collecting weeds or small plants collect more than one and collect the roots too. Brush off the roots removing as much of the dirt as possible before pressing) There are so many options.
When you are collecting on private or public property you must ask for permission before you take the sample. If you are collecting around the neighborhood ask your neighbors first. If you are collecting at a park, ask the park ranger etc.
When you collect never take more than 25% of the population or more than 10% of the plant.
When you have found your plant you want to collect all available parts of the plant; flowers, reproductive parts, leaves, bark, cones etc. Please take a picture of the plant and write down a detailed description of the plant and its location. Ideally anyone should be able to find your plant and take another sample. Write down the nearest address or location.
Store you samples in plastic bags. You can blow air into the bag before sealing it to provide extra protection for delicate samples. Your first sample collected will be Sample 1, the second sample 2 etc.
http://www.botany.unimelb.edu.au/herbarium/files/MakeHerbSpec.pdf
How do I press (dry) my plants?